BYU Church History & Doctrine Travel Study

Frequently Asked Questions

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  Who can apply? How many are admitted?

  Each of the two 18-day sessions will include up to 30 students, as well as two BYU professors and their spouses. Because space is limited and the program fee is significantly subsidized by BYU Religious Education, preference is given to full-time, undergraduate BYU-Provo students. BYU Flex students are welcome to apply. Non-BYU students are welcome to apply but they would have to pay the non-subsidized program fee.

  International students are welcome to apply. They must have a current passport that meets domestic flight requirements.

  Applicants must have a current ecclesiastical endorsement and abide by the CES Honor Code.

  The Travel Study Program is open to all majors and years. Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are all welcome to apply.

  Applicants with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA will be given preference.

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  Can married couples attend? How does lodging work for married couples? What if one of the spouses is not enrolled at BYU?

  Yes, married couples can apply. During the admission process, we will make every effort to admit the married couple together. While lodging is based on roommates of the same gender, if a married couple is admitted, we will accommodate them in a room together. 

  Admission preference is given to enrolled BYU-Provo students. However, if one of the spouses in a married couple is not an enrolled BYU-Provo student, please still apply and visit with the program director to explore admission options for the non-BYU enrolled spouse. Program fees remain applicable and will likely be higher for the non-BYU spouse. Course enrollment options would need to be discussed.

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  I understand that the four credit hours for this travel study count toward the six elective religion credit hours required for graduation. However, I’ve already completed the six elective credit hours. Can I use the travel study credit hours toward my eight required religion credit hours? Are there any other options?

  The program is designed to align with Rel C 350R, Religious Studies in World Settings. These 4 elective religion credits cannot be counted toward required religion courses. However, it’s worth noting that even if you’ve already fulfilled the required six elective religion credit hours, these four credit hours from the travel study will still contribute to your overall credit hours needed for graduation. A candidate for a baccalaureate degree must accumulate a minimum of 120 credit hours. Therefore, even if you’ve already completed your religion requirements, the travel student credit hours will still count toward your overall credit hours required for graduation.

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  Can I be enrolled in other Spring Term classes while I participate in the travel study program?

  Due to the intensity of the18-day onsite experience, it would be very difficult to be enrolled in another BYU Spring Term course (especially in-person courses) and fulfill the expectations of that course and the Travel Study Program. Thus, admitted students are prohibited from enrolling in additional Spring Term courses without the approval of the program director. During the Spring Term it may be possible to consider online course enrollment if a student's major, scholarship, or other factors require them to be enrolled in more credits. This must be approved by the program director.

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  What does it cost to participate in the program?

  This program has been significantly subsidized by Religious Education Experiential funds, allowing for a very low program fee of $200. Students are also responsible for the flight to Kansas City, Missouri, and home from Omaha, Nebraska, as well as Spring Term tuition for 3 credit hours and personal expenses.

  See the "Cost & Expectations" tab at the top of this page for a detailed description of all required costs to participate in the Travel Study Program.

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  Do I have to participate in the entire on-campus preparation portion of the program, including during 2nd block Winter Semester and the 1st week of Spring Term?

  Yes. In order to fulfill the 4 credits religion and to be prepared for the 18-day onsite travel portion of the program, all admitted students must participate in the on-campus preparatory instruction during the 2nd block of Winter Semester (dates and times TBD after admission) and the 1st week of Spring Term. Any exceptions to this must be approved by the program director.

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  What is the admission timeline – when do I hear back, and what is the deadline?

  Applications open mid-November and the deadline is Friday, January 22, 2027. Once the deadline closes, qualifying students will be invited for a brief, in-person interview with the program director. Admission decisions will be communicated the first week of February. Admitted students will be given a week to accept the offer. Once the offer is accepted, students will have approximately 1-2 weeks to pay the program fee and make their flight reservations based on the instruction that will be given.

  See the "How to Apply" tab above for application details.

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  When and how do I make flight reservations?

  Admitted students are expected to make flight reservations shortly after being admitted to the program. Detailed instructions with dates and times of arrival and departure will be given after admission to the program.

  Admitted students are responsible for the airfare to Kansas City, Missouri and from Omaha, Nebraska, including making the reservations. You can use booking websites or go directly through the airline. You can also go to travel.byu.edu for booking options through BYU.

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  What is the workload like during the on-campus and onsite portions of the program?

  Like any college-level course, this is a rigorous travel study program while being balanced with onsite experiential learning. Thus, students are required to participate in both on-campus and onsite instruction provided by BYU Church History and Doctrine professors. Readings will include the Doctrine and Covenants, Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, conference talks, the Joseph Smith Papers, and other academic and primary sources. Students will also be provided with a Site Guide. Assignments, exams, and reflections will be an integral and integrated part of the learning experience.

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  Who do I contact if I have questions?

  Please reach out to the program director, Dr. Byran Korth, with any questions. Email: bkorth@byu.edu (opens in a new tab). Call or text: 801-422-8662

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  Are there scholarships available?

  The travel study program is largely subsidized by BYU Religious Education experiential funding, allowing for a very low $200 program fee, which covers all onsite transportation, lodging, and approximately half of the meals in an 18-day period. In addition to the program fee, students are responsible for the flights and Spring Term tuition. Given this significantly subsidized program fee, there are no other available scholarships through Religious Education. However, students are encouraged to inquire with their major departments and colleges for any additional scholarships.